AUSTIN (KXAN) — He spent two seasons with the Houston Cougars before transferring to Texas, but one year in burnt orange was all Matthew Golden needed to stand out.
Golden, a junior, declared for the NFL draft Monday, and in an Instagram post, he said the timing “couldn’t be any better.”
“What I have learned is that if you choose, every single day, to believe in yourself, stay the course and have faith that God will never lead you astray, dreams will become a reality when the perfect timing presents itself,” he wrote. “My ultimate dream has always been to announce that I will declare for the 2025 NFL draft and I feel the timing couldn’t be any better than right now for me to take that step.”
Golden racked up 987 receiving yards on 58 catches, averaging 17 yards per reception, with nine touchdowns for the Longhorns. He had 100 or more receiving yards in two games, including an 8-catch, 162-yard performance against Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game and a 7-catch, 149-yard game in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Peach Bowl against Arizona State. His 54-yard grab in the first quarter against the Sun Devils was his longest reception of the season.
Golden also returned kicks with 285 return yards on 14 attempts.
In two years at Houston, Golden caught 76 passes for 988 yards with 13 touchdowns. He returned two kicks for touchdowns with the Cougars.
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Golden was rated a 4-star prospect by several recruiting services coming out of Klein Cain High School in Houston.
Senior defensive back Andrew Mukuba and senior defensive tackle Vernon Broughton officially declared for the draft Monday.
The NFL tweaked its rules about declaring for the draft because of the College Football Playoff’s expanded format. While they kept the traditional deadline of Jan. 15, they set up a “soft” deadline for Jan. 6 for players whose seasons ended before then. Texas lost to Ohio State 28-14 in the CPF semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 10, so Texas players are bound to the traditional deadlineof Jan. 15.
The CFP national championship game is Jan. 20 between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Participating players have until Jan. 24 to declare for the draft.
The NFL scouting combine is Feb. 24-March 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The 2025 NFL draft is April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.